Poll: Ohio Young Adults Stung by High Gas Prices, Favor Increased Production of Coal, Gas and Oil

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Nov 02, 2012, 04:00 ET

Buckeye Millennials rank energy dependency among top three national security issues as Presidential Election nears

WASHINGTON, Nov. 2, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Generation Opportunity today released additional results from their comprehensive Ohio-specific survey of young adults ages 18-29. The poll found that 61% of Ohio Millennials would increase production of domestic American energy sources like oil, natural gas, and coal if given the opportunity to set America's fiscal priorities. Only 32% indicated their approval with President Obama's handling of gas prices and 50% indicated they have to spend more to go to work because of increasing gas prices. The poll also found that 81% of young Ohioans plan to vote in the presidential election and only 33% are satisfied with elected officials in Washington, and fully 79% believe key life decisions have been delayed by the poor national economy. Generation Opportunity has over 130,000 followers across the state of Ohio and uses a combined strategy of social media and grassroots tactics to encourage young adults to vote. The organization has over 4 million fans on Facebook and direct grassroots engagement with over a quarter million young Americans in key states including Ohio, Maine, New Hampshire, Michigan, North Carolina, Virginia, and Florida.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121023/DC98728 )

In addition to the poll results, Generation Opportunity has launched the Pledge to GO Vote Campaign aimed at further increasing the already growing enthusiasm and interest among young adults to participate in the presidential election. Generation Opportunity is encouraging its supporters in Ohio and other states, as well as their friends and all those within their networks, to Pledge to GO Vote. Read more about the initiative and sign the pledge here at GenerationOpportunity.org/vote.

Watch the video at bit.ly/PledgeToGOVote.

OHIO'S YOUNG ADULTS – VOTER ENGAGEMENT

81% of Ohio Millennials plan to vote in the election for President this year.
Only 33% believe that today's political leaders reflect the interests of young Americans.
73% believe that the lack of job opportunities is shrinking the American middle class.
Only 20% say that the economic policies coming out of Washington are helping them.

OHIO'S YOUNG ADULTS – ON GAS PRICES, AMERICAN ENERGY, AND NATIONAL SECURITY

Only 32% of Ohio Millennials approve of President Obama's administration's handling of gas prices.
How have increasing gas prices affected you in your day-to-day life? (Accepted multiple responses) (Randomized):
- 50% - Don't go out as much;
- 50% - Spend more to go to work;
- 46% - Have cut back on entertainment expenses;
- 46% - Have limited their leisure plans;
- 31% - Have cut back on groceries;
- 28% - Have put off vacation;
- 24% - Spend more to go to school;
- 19% - Spend more to look for a job;
- 18% - Have moved closer to work, school, or family;
- 16% - Have delayed paying other bills;
- 14% - Needed to get another job to pay for gas;
- 2% - Other;
- 4% - Do not know/cannot judge (accepted only this response).
61% would increase production of domestic American energy sources like oil, natural gas, and coal if given the opportunity to set America's fiscal priorities.
When asked to rank the greatest threats to the national security of the United States, young adults in Ohio listed the following reasons: (Randomized List) (Accepted Multiple Responses)
- 60% - The national debt;
- 48% - Energy dependence;
- 44% - Indebtedness to foreign nations;
- 41% - Terrorism;
- 31% - Nuclear capable nations like Iran;
- 6% - Other;
- 8% - Do not know/cannot judge (accepted only this response).
59% are not confident that America will still be a global leader in five years if the USA continues along the same path as the last few years.

OHIO'S YOUNG ADULTS – ON THE DIRECTION OF THE COUNTRY AND NATIONAL PRIORITIES

Only 27% of Ohio Millennials agree with the statement "generally speaking, things in the United States are heading in the right direction."
70% prefer reducing federal spending over raising taxes on individuals to balance the budget.
Only 37% approve of President Obama's administration's handling of youth unemployment.
78% would decrease federal spending if given the opportunity to set America's fiscal priorities.

STATEMENT BY PAUL T. CONWAY, PRESIDENT OF GENERATION OPPORTUNITY

"High gas prices and America's ongoing dependency on foreign energy are among the top concerns for young adults in Ohio as the presidential election approaches. In very practical terms, high gas prices are draining whatever discretionary funds they have remaining, making it even tougher to pay their bills and make ends meet day-to-day. They believe economic policies coming out of Washington, D.C., are hurting them, that elected leaders are out of touch, and that President Obama's agenda to limit coal and other energy production is bad policy for Ohio workers and America," said Paul T. Conway, President of Generation Opportunity and former Chief of Staff of the United States Department of Labor. "In order to realize their dreams and fulfill their careers, they know the economy needs to expand and that more, meaningful, full-time jobs are the only true solution to high unemployment among young adults."

METHODOLOGY

For Generation Opportunity, the polling company, inc./WomanTrend, conducted a statewide online survey of 507 Ohio adults ages 18-29 between July 27 – August 14, 2012. Randomly selected online opt-in panel participants were sent an invitation to the survey via email, which included a secure link to the online questionnaire. Quotas were used to ensure the survey was representative of the larger 18-29 year old statewide population with regard to race, region, and gender. The data were NOT weighted. The overall sampling margin of error for the survey is +/- 4.4% at a 95% confidence interval, meaning that the data obtained would not differ more than 4.4 percentage points in 95 out of 100 similar samples obtained.

ABOUT GENERATION OPPORTUNITY

Generation Opportunity is the largest non-profit, non-partisan organization in the United States engaging and mobilizing young Americans (ages 18-29) on important economic issues facing the nation. Since its launch in June of 2011, Generation Opportunity has operated on a combined strategy of advanced social media tactics and field tactics to reach young Americans across the country.

The organization's Facebook pages post links to relevant articles and reports from sources ranging from the federal Government Accountability Office (GAO), to The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Brookings Institution, The Wall Street Journal, The Huffington Post, and The Heritage Foundation.

Read about Generation Opportunity here; visit "Being American by GO" on Facebook here, "The Constitution by GO" on Facebook here, "Gas Prices Are Too Damn High" on Facebook here, "Lower Taxes by GO" on Facebook here, "Keep Texas Awesome" on Facebook here, "Jersey Proud" on Facebook here, and "We Like Small Government" on Facebook here.

For our Spanish-language page – Generacion Oportunidad – click here.

CONTACT:
Matthew Faraci – 202-997-1636 | EMAIL
David Pasch – 202-230-7947 | EMAIL

SOURCE Generation Opportunity